Two American volunteers were captured in Ukraine by Russian forces near Kharkiv . The Daily Mail reported, citing the Daily Telegraph, noting that Robert Druerke and Andy Huynh - US Army veterans and from Alabama - were taken prisoner last week. Druerke and Huynh had left for Ukraine as volunteers to help the Kiev forces.

Meanwhile, the Russian advance into the Donbass continues, slow but inexorable: the Lugansk oblast is now almost entirely in the hands of Moscow, the Ukrainians are trying to resist and Zelensky affirms in his usual video on Telegram that the defense of the Donbass is "vital ” For Kiev, because its outcome“ will give an indication of the continuation of the war, of who will dominate on the ground in the coming weeks ”.

For the Ukrainian president, therefore, it is "fundamental" to remain in Donbass, where yesterday "there were no drastic fighting" and " the most ferocious took place in Severodonetsk and in all the nearby cities ". Zelensky speaks of "painful losses", which he then defines the liberation of Kherson as "the key objective , towards which we will move step by step". The Ukrainian president launched yet another appeal to Western partners: "We need modern anti-missile weapon systems, we cannot yet procrastinate".

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also stressed the need for Kiev to have " more heavy weapons ". "We are stepping up supplies, because the Ukrainians are absolutely dependent on them to be able to deal with Russia's brutal aggression," he said.

It was in Severodonetsk that the ultimatum of the Russians reached the Ukrainian forces barricaded in the Azot chemical plant. General Mikhail Mizintsev, the officer who was in charge of the siege of Mariupol, said the fighters should " stop their senseless resistance and lay down their weapons" starting at 8 am Moscow time (7 am Italian time) . In the factory, the mayor of the city said yesterday, there are also 560 civilians.

New strong statement by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who said he doubts Ukraine will still exist "in a couple of years" .

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Here is the news by the hour

Russian forces captured two Americans

Two American volunteers were captured in Ukraine by Russian forces near Kharkiv. The Daily Mail reported, citing the Daily Telegraph, noting that Robert Druerke and Andy Huynh - US Army veterans and from Alabama - were taken prisoner last week. Druerke and Huynh had left for Ukraine as volunteers to help the Kiev forces.

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Great Britain: "Imminent dispatch of long-range rocket launchers"

The United Kingdom will send long-range Gmlrs-type rocket launchers to the armed forces in Kiev "imminent". This was announced today in Oslo, during a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (the Nordic alliance led by London), the British Defense Minister, Ben Wallace, in the face of the difficulties Ukrainian troops are encountering in repelling the Russian offensive. in the Donbass. In recent weeks, Kiev has repeatedly called on its allies to provide heavier weapons, particularly to counter Moscow's artillery.

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Moscow: "There is no room for dialogue with the EU"

There is almost no room left for dialogue with the European Union: said Russian permanent representative to the EU Vladimir Chizhov. "In 2016, when the then President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker came here to the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg he had a long discussion with our president and spoke at a plenary meeting," Chizhov told Rossiya channel. -24. "And this happened after 2014, when our two-year summit was suspended," but there was still room for dialogue, the diplomat said. "Now there is practically no more space."

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Kiev: "Medvedev little man with enormous insecurities"

The advisor to the Ukrainian president Mychaylo Podolyak called the former president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev in a tweet "a little man with enormous insecurities". Medvedev, who is currently vice-president of the Security Council of Russia, "sprays poison on Ukraine and is the face of Russian imperialism," wrote Podolyak, "if imperialism had a face, it would be that of Medvedev. The question. it is where he will be in two years, "he added, referring to a statement by Medvedev according to which Ukraine will no longer be there in two years.

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Xi to Putin: "Mutual support"

China is willing, together with Russia, "to continue to support each other on issues relating to fundamental interests and key concerns such as sovereignty and security, to intensify strategic coordination between the two countries, and to strengthen communication and coordination in the major international and regional organizations such as the UN, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization ". President Xi Jinping said this to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in the telephone call he had in the afternoon, in the report of the state network CCTV.

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Zelensky: "Ukraine first step, then it's up to other countries"

"As in the past, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the first step that the Russian leadership needs to open the way to other countries, to conquer other peoples". This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking on video link to the Parliament of the Czech Republic, quoted by the BBC. The Kiev leader then asked the EU to strengthen sanctions against Moscow and support Ukraine's accession path to the European Union.

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Xi Jinping-Putin phone call

President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. This was reported by the Chinese state network CCTV.

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Macron: "Kiev must negotiate with Moscow"

"The Ukrainian president and his officials will have to negotiate with Russia" and "we will do everything to stop Russia's forces and help the Ukrainians and their army". This was stated by French President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to Romania, speaking to French and other troops from NATO in the military base of Mihail Kogalniceanu. The international media reported it.

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Ikea leaves Russia

Ikea will sell all four factories in Russia. This was reported by the Russian agency Tass citing the same Swedish company.

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Stoltenberg invites Zelensky to the NATO summit

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be invited to the NATO summit in Madrid, having to speak to the leaders: if he wants to come in person he will be welcome, if he can't he will connect by videoconference. NATO leaders want to show solidarity not only in words but with the facts ". This was stated by Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, at a press conference.

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"Great arsenal of US and EU weapons destroyed"

Russian missiles destroyed a large arsenal of weapons sent by the United States and European countries to the armed forces of Ukraine, according to the General Staff of the Moscow Army, cited by TASS.

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Pope: "Let's not forget the battered Ukrainian people"

"Please do not forget the tormented people of Ukraine in war, let's not get used to living as if the war were a distant thing. Our memory, our affection, our prayers, our help always go close to this suffering people. so much and that he is carrying out a true martyrdom ". The Pope said this at the end of the general audience.

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Medvedev: "I doubt that Ukraine will exist in a couple of years"

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he doubts Ukraine will still exist "in a couple of years". Tass reports it.

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Moscow: "US wants an escalation"

Statements by a senior Pentagon official on the delivery of high-mobility rocket artillery systems (HIMARS) to Ukraine demonstrate Washington's intention to continue the escalation and cause deep concern, the Russian ambassador to the United States said. Anatoly Antonov quoted by the Interfax agency.

"It is very worrying that the Pentagon high representative admits the possibility of expanding the supply of long-range systems. These words can be seen as Washington's intention to opt for further escalation. This only confirms that the Americans have no aspiration for a peaceful solution, "Antonov said.

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Azot, ultimatum of the Russians

Russia has ordered to surrender to the Ukrainian forces barricaded in the Azot chemical plant in the eastern city of Severodonetsk within the early hours of today. The Guardian reports it. General Mikhail Mizintsev, the officer who was in charge of the siege of Mariupol, said the fighters should "stop their senseless resistance and lay down their weapons" starting at 8 am Moscow time (7 am Italian time). Yesterday Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said that there are also 560 civilians inside the factory.

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Four civilians killed in raids on Dnipropetrovsk

Four civilians were killed in Russian bombings that struck the city of Apostolove in the Dnipropetrovsk region of eastern Ukraine overnight.

"Apostolove was hit by enemy fire. Four people were killed", wrote Mayor Andriy Osa on Telegram, reported by Ukrinform, warning the inhabitants not to touch metal objects left on the ground after the explosions In the night the Russian attacks hit in the same region also the districts of Kryvyi Rih and Synelnykove.

(Unioneonline)

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